A unique blog dedicated to covering the worlds of book publishing and the news media, revealing creative ideas, practical strategies, interesting stories, and provocative opinions. Along the way, discover savvy but entertaining insights on book marketing, public relations, branding, and advertising from a veteran of two decades in the industry of book publishing publicity and marketing.

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Wednesday, May 10, 2017

10 Lessons For Authors-Turned-Bloggers

I
have posted nearly 2,500 times on my blog (www.BookMarketingBuzzblog.blogspot.com) since its inception six years ago (May
13, 2011). Please allow me to share some
useful insights to those considering blogging or looking to increase their blog
traffic, especially for authors, book marketers, publishers, and book
publicists.

1.Blogging Is
Time-Consuming

No
matter how quickly I write -- and my ability to generate many ideas quickly is an
asset – I still find that that the blogging consumes a certain time-chunk that
needs to be accounted for. Writing a
blog, then editing and proofreading can take 20-30 minutes a day. Posting, sharing it, and responding to those
who comment on a post can take another 20-30 minutes per day.

2.Blogging Has A Pay-Off

Like
anything, you want to know the ROI when it comes to blogging. I see the benefits as follows:

·It
furthers my brand.

·I
find it enjoyable to pen my thoughts on a regular basis.

·It
serves as a writing resume when I contact the media seeking freelance
contributions to their publication or site.

·It
helps people and that’s a rewarding feeling.

·Some
of these posts can be re-purposed for other media outlets.

·Several
blog posts are serving as the formation for a future book.

·There’s
something psychologically gratifying in seeing a post get a certain number of
clicks – all writers have egos that need servicing.

3.Blogging Can Be
Addictive

I
initially thought I’d blog a few times per week. Then it became five days a
week – off on weekends – and now it’s a daily habit: Sometimes I’ll post more than once in a
day. To be truly effective, one must
blog regularly and consistently. It doesn’t have to be daily, and quality is
more important than quantity, but it can’t be once every so often or just three
times a month.

4.Blogging Helps
Develop A Voice Or Persona

The
blog represents my views, industry insights, advice, personal experiences, and
professional analysis on matters pertaining to book marketing and
publicity. I am my blog -- and -- it
represents me. My readers know what I stand for and where I’m coming from. Make sure you do specialize in writing about
a specific genre or perspective – you can’t be all over the place on all kinds
of things, unless the focus of the blog is to be unfocused.

5.Blog With Your
Goals In Mind

Why
do you blog? Make sure your blog serves
your goals and desires. If the blog is
to support a certain kind of message make sure you repeatedly hammer that
message in your posts. If your goal is
to get more traffic to your site, keep including relevant links to it. If you
want book sales, post content that invites people to buy and gives them a showcase
for your writing style. Blog with a
purpose.

6.Blog In A Unique
Way

If
you post something that you admit doesn’t have your fingerprints on it, don’t
bother doing so. Everyone can
distinguish my blog posts, given the content, style, and persona behind it. If you put out a generic post that could
easily have been written by someone else, press delete.

7.Blogging Can’t Be
Sloppy

Treat
your blog like the book that you are writing.
Edit, spell-check, and read it aloud to see if it flows well. A blog represents you, so-make sure you look
good.

8.Use Your Blog To
Network

Your
blog offers a great excuse to introduce yourself to others. Your blog should be
listed in your social media profiles, prominently displayed on your web site,
included in your e-mail signature and stated on your business card, press kit
and marketing materials. When you use Twitter, FB and other social sites, share
links to your blog.

9.Invite Others To
Contribute

Allow
others to contribute to their blog. Let them guest-post or interview fellow
experts. Why? First off, that’s one less
blog post that you need to write.
Second, these contributors become your marketers, as they share the link
with their followers and generate extra attention for you.

10.Put Your Blog On An Editorial Calendar

The
best way to make sure you blog regularly – and without panic -- is to put yourself
on a schedule. Think about when you want
to post which context and work ahead.
Also think about special anniversaries, honorary days, holidays, or
special times that may serve you well by typing relevant content to them.

There
you have it – my 10 observations about blogging. Perhaps you have others to add to them. Or
maybe I just inspired you to not take up blogging. A case can certainly be made that my time
invested in the blog could be spent elsewhere.
But I’d feel a void without it.
Blogging is now a part of my existence, similar to petting my dog,
watching the Mets, reading the N.Y. Post,
sipping Starbucks java, and walking to work from the train station.

About Me

Brian Feinblum, the creator and author of BookMarketingBuzzBlog, is the chief marketing officer for the nation's largest book promotions firm, Media Connect (www.Media-Connect.com), formerly Planned Television Arts, and has been involved in book publicity and marketing since 1989. He has served several book publishing companies as a publicist, book editor, and acquisitions editor. Brian, who earned a BA in English from Brooklyn College, became a published author in 1995 when he penned The Florida Homeowner, Condo and Co-Op Handbook. He resides in Westchester, New York with his wife, two young children, and an English Bulldog.